Music in the spirit of peace
Driven by the simple desire to help Sri Lankan youth, Haadia Galely has created a powerful force for peace In June 2018, an ensemble of young Sri Lankan choristers opened their souls in song onstage at the Yale International Choral Festival. Their soulful renditions of Islamic devotional music, from naats to hamds, baiths and Sufi-style [...]
Talking drums
Naadro, the popular percussion band @ 15 We were serenaded by drumming as we approached the studio of Naadro: a soft thrumming that suddenly broke into a rich medley of beats. We were transported in our minds to many different worlds simultaneously: to a West African village with talking drums, where messages and dance tunes [...]
On lithium for 30 years – a patient talks
Prof. Raveen Hanwella’s MediScene column is back! There are around 200,000 persons with bipolar affective disorder (BPD) in Sri Lanka. Some are undiagnosed and others are not taking medication. BPD is a serious psychiatric disorder characterised by severe fluctuations of mood resulting in social indiscretions, financial losses, high risk of suicide, and serious disruption of [...]
Popham’s green legacy will live on
Sam Popham — the man behind the unique arboretum in Dambulla is no more It was a sad day for many environmentalists and conservationists to hear of the passing of Francis Home Popham, more widely known as Sam Popham, on May 28 in the UK. Popham established the Sam Popham Arboretum, now called the National [...]
Letters to the Editor
Recalling RW’s words in the 2001 hustings Having read the thought-provoking editorial page article, ‘Sri Lanka in Lee Kuan Yew’s words’ in the Daily Mirror recently, I was prompted me to write these lines on how a somewhat controversial local politician had been dreaming of emulating Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew. This politician is Ranil Wickremesinghe, [...]
Appreciations
Looking back and being grateful for all that you instilled in us J.V. Weerasinghe May 17, 2022 marked the 10th death anniversary of J.V. Weerasinghe, former Principal of Carey College (1976-1981) and Deputy Headmaster of S. Thomas’ Preparatory School (1981-1998). Hardly a day goes by where we, his students, don’t recall the wonderful lessons and [...]
Passion for pottery
A combination of food, friendships and nature are what inspires her says Mihiri de Silva Mihiri de Silva got into pottery “purely by chance,” after going for a tea and pottery evening at a local cafe, a few years ago. A graduate in textile technology from the University of Leeds in the UK, and design [...]
A touch of Paradise Road Outlet to deck your home
Paradise Road’s newly opened Outlet Store at Dharmapala Mawatha features a trove of unique pieces, last collection pieces, discontinued styles, all with discounts upto 80% off. In addition to being available in-store and a limited selection online at www.paradiseroad.lk, the WhatsApp and Order Pickup option is available and helps customers get the best deals on [...]
Inspired by ‘delicious pickle of people’
Shortlisted for the Gratiaen Prize for the second year running, Ciara Mandulee Mendis’s latest collection is inspired by relationships you build with people you meet by chance Everything is grist to the mill when it comes to Ciara Mandulee Mendis. She is in no danger of running out of ideas, finding myriad flavours in what [...]
Sounds of Spring by Menaka Singers
‘Rustle of Spring’ a music recital by the Menaka Sahabandu School of Voice and Piano and Menaka Singers will be held on Saturday, June 11 at 7 p.m. at the Goethe Institute, 29 Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. The evening will feature well known works from opera, operetta, Lieder, musical theatre as well piano and violin [...]
Eye for monsters within society
‘Monsters and Mortals’ – artist Anoli Perera’s latest exhibition opened at the Barefoot Gallery on May 26. In her eyes, monsters are not the creatures of myth and fantasy but represent the antithetical behaviours and beliefs that are a blight on current society – that impede its ethical workings. Through her work as an [...]
Finding their voice in poetry
Stepping away from a potential career in Environmental Science, Maure Nava ‘never thought she would make poetry’ and had initially struggled with deciding what she should do with her life following her graduation. Now a freelance writer with a passion for poetry she says, “when I began writing poetry it became like therapy”. ‘Raw’ – [...]